Fiona Woods has spent five years being the perfect shadow—playing Darwin Solomon’s stand-in for a woman he could never have. Her life has been dictated by his whims, her own desires buried beneath layers of quiet endurance. But when she discovers she’s pregnant, everything changes. Determined to protect her unborn child and reclaim her life, Fiona walks away from Darwin and the toxic world he represents. But Darwin isn’t ready to let her go—and neither are the secrets and enemies circling them both. As lies unravel and hidden truths come to light, Fiona and Darwin find themselves drawn back together, forced to confront the ghosts of their past and the enemies determined to destroy them. Can love emerge from years of pain and betrayal? Or will their chance at happiness be crushed under the weight of secrets too heavy to bear? CHARACTERIZATION FIONA WOODS (FL) Age: Late 20s Traits: Intelligent, resourceful, quietly strong, yet deeply scarred by her years as Darwin’s stand-in. Her resilience comes from enduring pain without letting it break her. Darwin Solomon (ML): Age: Early 30s Traits: Proud, cold, and emotionally detached, but beneath his sharp exterior lies a man struggling with his own guilt and loneliness. BELLA ROBBINS (ANTAGONIST) Age: Mid-20s Traits: Ambitious, manipulative, and desperate to solidify her position by any means necessary. WILLIAM NEWTON (SECONDARY ANTAGONIST) Age: Early 40s Traits: Ruthless, shrewd, and motivated by a long-standing grudge against Darwin that drives him to play a dangerous game of revenge. THALASSA CAREY (FL’S BEST FRIEND) Age: Late 20s Traits: Outspoken, fiercely protective of Fiona, and always ready with a sharp wit or a clever plan.
Lihat lebih banyakThe elevator hummed softly as it descended to the underground garage, but Fiona's heart raced faster than the machine could move. Thalassa’s voice echoed in her mind, her best friend’s urgent warning laced with fear: “They’re on their way to you. Don’t wait. Move now.”Darwin stood beside her, his stance stiff and his jaw set in a grim line. Though he hadn’t questioned her urgency, she knew he didn’t yet grasp the full gravity of the situation. The cold efficiency in his movements betrayed his years of operating under high stakes, but this wasn’t just a business deal gone wrong. This was personal, and it was dangerous.“Darwin,” she said, her voice low but firm, “this isn’t just a scare tactic. William’s people are coming for us, and they aren’t going to play fair.”His gaze shifted to her, sharp and assessing. “I figured as much. That’s why I’ve already locked the building down and stationed more guards at the exits.”She wanted to believe that would be enough, but deep down, she dou
Fiona stared at the message in disbelief, her heart pounding in her chest as the words seemed to etch themselves into her mind. I know what you’re planning. And I’m coming for you. There was no mistaking the cold, calculated tone of the warning. William was no longer just a business rival or an obstacle in her path. He had become a predator, hunting her down with ruthless precision. For a long moment, she simply stood there, her phone in hand, her mind racing. She had known the stakes were high, but now, the weight of her situation felt suffocating. There was no room for error. The game had shifted, and the consequences of any misstep would be dire. But despite the fear gnawing at her insides, Fiona knew she couldn’t back down. She couldn’t allow William to destroy everything she had worked for—and more importantly, everything she was about to build with Darwin. Thalassa’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Fiona, what did he say?” Fiona looked up, meeting her best friend’s concerned
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft glow over the city that never slept. Bay City seemed alive with an energy that pulsated through the streets, but Fiona’s mind was far from the vibrant lights and sounds. Her world had narrowed down to a singular thought: they were running out of time. She sat at her desk, the once-organized piles of paperwork scattered in front of her, untouched. Her phone lay next to her, its silence almost as loud as the chaos she was feeling inside. Darwin had been distant since their last conversation, but that was understandable. There was little time for pleasantries when the stakes were this high. They had both been walking on the edge for too long, and one misstep could send them tumbling into the abyss. The message from her mysterious contact still echoed in her mind: They know. It wasn’t just an idle warning—it was a declaration of war. Fiona had thought she could outsmart William, could play him the same way she had played others, but William
Fiona’s fingers trembled as she clutched her phone, staring at the message that had just appeared on the screen. They know. The words echoed in her mind, sending a chill down her spine. Her heart raced, and the weight of the moment pressed heavily on her chest. Had she made a mistake by playing both sides? Or had the walls she was trying to carefully build already begun to collapse?Her breath came in shallow bursts as she stepped out of the elevator, the sound of the doors closing behind her almost deafening in the stillness. The marble floors of the building gleamed under the overhead lights, but everything felt suddenly distant. The polished, pristine world of R&K Electronics, and by extension, her entire carefully constructed world, seemed to blur at the edges. This wasn’t just a business game anymore; it was war, and she was standing right at the frontline.She quickly gathered herself, forcing the rush of panic back into the recesses of her mind. There was no time to second-gues
The minutes felt like hours as Fiona stood beside Darwin, staring at the glowing lights of Bay City, each one representing a potential threat, a rival, or an obstacle in their path. The air between them was thick with the weight of their shared knowledge. The trap was set, and it was only a matter of time before it would snap shut.Fiona knew they couldn't afford to wait around. Bella and William had already made their move, and while Fiona had spent the last few days covering her tracks, the danger was still very real. Darwin was right to be worried. Once their enemies knew they were no longer hiding in the shadows, everything would change.“We need to get ahead of them,” Fiona said, breaking the silence that had lingered since Darwin had caught up with her. Her voice was steady, even though her insides were churning with anxiety. “We can’t afford to wait for them to make the first move.”Darwin nodded, his face taut with determination. “I’ve already started moving pieces into place.
Fiona hadn’t expected it to be easy. Nothing ever was where Darwin Solomon was concerned. But as the days wore on, she found herself drawn deeper into his world again—this time, with no illusions about the consequences.The glittering skyline outside Darwin’s penthouse painted the city in shades of gold and deep violet. From the expansive windows, she could see the towers of Bay City, a world of power, wealth, and the ever-present tension that came with it. Fiona sank back into the plush leather chair, feeling the weight of what lay ahead. Her fingers brushed across the folder in front of her—evidence of the threats closing in on them, on her. The files were filled with betrayal, sabotage, and lies.Despite Darwin’s warnings, there was still a part of her that wanted to turn away from this fight. After all, she had spent years in the shadows, enduring as Darwin’s stand-in for Lilian. She had watched from the sidelines as his world spun out of control. But now, everything was different
Fiona paced the small confines of her apartment, her bare feet making soft, repetitive thuds on the hardwood floor. The evening breeze filtered through the open window, doing little to ease the restlessness in her chest. It had been three days since her confrontation with Darwin at the cruise party, three days since the revelation of Bella’s schemes had left her shaken.Three days, and yet Fiona still felt trapped—caged in a game she hadn’t agreed to play.She paused by the window, staring out at the glittering skyline of Bay City. From here, the city looked so peaceful, its chaos muted by distance. But Fiona knew better. Beneath the sparkling facade lay a tangle of power plays and betrayals—one she was now irrevocably entangled in.Her thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone. She hesitated, her stomach knotting as she recognized the number. Darwin.Taking a steadying breath, she answered. “What do you want?”“Have you calmed down enough to think rationally?” His voi
The morning sun spilled over the quiet streets of Serene City, casting a soft golden glow that felt like a balm to Fiona’s frayed nerves. It was her third week in this new town, a world away from the suffocating glitz and glamour of Bay City. Here, life moved at a slower, more forgiving pace—a stark contrast to the relentless demands of Darwin Solomon’s shadow. Yet, even in the peace, her heart remained heavy, her mind restless.Fiona sat at the small breakfast table in her rented apartment, absentmindedly stirring a cup of tea. The baby inside her had become her only companion, a tiny spark of life that gave her the strength to keep moving forward. But the reality of her situation was beginning to sink in. She was alone, with no job, no stable income, and enemies lurking in the shadows.Thalassa had offered to help her financially, but Fiona had refused. She didn’t want to be anyone’s charity case—not even her best friend’s. For years, she’d lived as someone else’s pawn, dancing to D
The tension in the secretary's office was palpable as Darwin stepped out of his office, his sharp gaze scanning the room.“What’s all the noise about?” he asked coolly.Tony Potter wasted no time, storming over and pounding his chest in frustration. He launched into an impassioned explanation of the issue with the sales contract, emphasizing the gravity of the mistake.Standing behind Darwin, Bella adopted an expression of feigned concern. “Mr. Potter, I’m sure Fiona was just momentarily distracted,” she said sweetly. “Calm down—there will be other opportunities. It’s not worth upsetting yourself and risking your health.”Fiona’s eyes narrowed as she turned to Bella, her tone cold and cutting. “Miss Robbins, who exactly are you accusing?”Bella feigned a startled look, her voice softening. “Fiona, you misunderstood. I was just trying to—” She trailed off, glancing at Darwin for support. “Darwin...”Darwin’s gaze flicked to Fiona, his expression unreadable. His lips curled into a faint
The soft hum of fluorescent lights filled the room as Dr. Hamilton glanced at the chart in her hands. She turned to Fiona Woods with a practiced smile, her voice steady yet kind.“Ms. Woods, congratulations. You’re eight weeks pregnant!”The words hit Fiona like a thunderclap. For a moment, she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. The sterile air of the doctor’s office seemed to thicken, pressing down on her chest.“What?” she finally whispered, her voice faint. “Pregnant?”Dr. Hamilton nodded, her smile unwavering but cautious, as if she anticipated resistance. “Yes, eight weeks along.”Fiona’s mind spun. Eight weeks? How could that be?She and Darwin Solomon had always been careful. Painstakingly careful. Memories flitted back to his birthday two months ago. A night that began with champagne and laughter, and ended in a fleeting moment of recklessness. Just once, she reminded herself. It was only once.Her expression must have betrayed her thoughts, because Dr. Hamilton spoke gently. “It’...
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